The Strong Conservative

Discussion of Liberty and Conservatism

2012-03-14T17:39:00.000-04:00

Mark Levin appeared at a Reagan Forum in California to discuss his new book "Meritocracy" and the principles of conservatism in general. This is a must watch for any true believer in limited government, American history buffs, and the dangers of government expansion.

Trudeau's Treason

2012-02-14T15:18:00.001-05:00

I yield to no one in my disdain for Justin Trudeau. In my opinion, he encompasses a spoiled brat who's naivete is mind boggling, bordering on downright dangerous. This man would never hold the position he currently does had he been born to a different father. In the past, ignorant Justin Trudeau has seen fit to heap praise on tyrannical brutes like Fidel Castro. That being said, it's no surprise that his hatred for those not sharing his opinion on gay marriage, abortion, and social issues has surfaced. Apparently, if you're Catholic, Protestant, Jewish, or Muslim and believe in traditional family values, you have no place in Justin Trudeau's Canada.

Indeed, if abortion had any limits, Justin Trudeau would be willing to help Quebec separate from Canada. That used to be known as treason. Today, it's apparently a legitimate political strategy for a potential Liberal leadership hopeful. His moral relativism has reared its ugly head in the past in his refusal to label honour killings as barbaric. God forbid we offend the delicate sensibilities of women-killers and Islamic extremists, but those horrible Christians, Catholics and defenders of traditional marriage must be stopped!

Trudeau's comments are nothing short of disgraceful and show how intolerant he truly is. Perhaps his next suggestion will be "camps" for those that don't fall into his line of thinking so that they can be re-taught the correct, progressive manner of thought. Fidel might even have a model for him to borrow. We could call it Camp Gulag.

The intolerant world view and coercive bent of socialists like Trudeau rear their ugly head every so often in unguarded moments. Justin has given us yet another reason to fear the growth of government and to take stand to voice the dangers of coercive government and central planning at every turn.

Perhaps, Justin the drama teacher will have taken one step towards life outside of government by his ignorant and bigoted statements. In my Canada, you can believe that gay marriage is right or wrong, that abortion should be illegal or legal. It is the freedom to express ideas, convince others of the rightness of your cause so that they vote for you that makes Canada a great democracy. It is not the so called "enlightened" elite pronouncing their edicts from above that has made any nation great, nor will it ever.

The Real Iron Lady

2012-02-01T18:31:00.000-05:00

The "Iron Lady" was a thoroughly disappointing movie from a historical perspective. Instead of a movie that provided a tribute to an incredible, brilliant, and accomplished woman, Hollywood focused on the last days of Margaret Thatcher struggling with loneliness, sadness, and dementia. Typical of socialist Hollywood.

In the alternative, may I offer just a few brief videos of the real Iron Lady, Prime Minister of Great Britain Margaret Thatcher at her finest:

Questions for the Conservative Media Establishment

2012-01-26T16:54:00.000-05:00

The conservative media "elites" like Drudge, Ann Coulter, SE Cupp, and others are spewing vile against Newt Gingrich as he surges in the GOP campaign for presidential candidate. My respect for these writers is beyond question, but I have a few questions for them:

1. What differentiates Romney from Charlie Crist whom you all loathed so recently?
2. How are Romney's policies any different from John McCain's who proved, again, that moderates don't win elections?
3. Does it not worry you that endorsements from moderates like Bob Dole and McCain (collectively, losers) reflect on the character and principles (or lack thereof) in Mittens, I mean Romney?
4. Can you really believe that Romney won't cave to Democrats in the media, house, or senate just as he did when he was governor?

I would certainly support Romney over Obama, but Romney`s credentials as a reliable conservative are weak at best. McCain, Dole, Bush Sr., and Ford proved that moderate Republicans lose elections. A conservative who does not apologize for their beliefs more often win elections, just think of Reagan, Kemp, and Rubio. Romney seems to feel guilty for his wealth and success, as well as his conservative views which is why he so often has caved to liberal ideas.

Newt is far from the perfect conservative candidate, but at least he doesn`t apologize for his views and gives it right back to the elite media when they throw their biased questions at him.

Obama the Broken Record

2012-01-25T10:30:00.000-05:00

If President Obama's speech sounded familiar last night, there's a reason. The "fairness" mantra he loves so much, which really means taking from the productive to give to the less-productive is classic socialism. Equality of result will inevitably lead to horrible results for any society. Equality of opportunity is the key to prosperity.

Why is Canada Getting the F-35?

2012-01-23T20:15:00.002-05:00

This is why. An incredible feat of engineering that will propel Canada, the US and our allies into the 21st century with total air supremacy. No tail hook, no catapult needed. Awesome. Take pride in this, it's your tax dollars at work.

Media's True Feelings of the Military Revealed

2012-01-13T17:08:00.000-05:00

A new video has surfaced from Afghanistan that appears to depict a group of US Marines urinating on the corpses of dead Taliban fighters. The media and lefty-commentators everywhere are expressing their shock and dismay at the vulgar acts of these servicemen. This will be another incident in which the mainstream media (MSM) will present as a pattern of vulgar brutality that is so common place from US and allied soldiers.
Underneath the facade of respect shown by the MSM to the military lies a deep hatred and disgust for the Army, Air Force, Navy, and Marine Corps. It was they, and their predecessors who encouraged the spitting on US servicemen returning home from South Asia and glorified Hanoi Jane, the peace movement allied with the USSR, and the heroic status of butchers like Che Guevara and Fidel Castro.

The members of the media cannot comprehend that men and women would serve out of sacrifice to their country, or undertake placing themselves in such danger for the by-gone idea of patriotism. The uneducated masses just don't know better, they sneer from their northeastern cocktail parties. The media scorns freedom while cheerleading every political scheme to enhance the control of the state at the expense of the individual, lulling the uninformed and apathetic into complacency and dependency with terms like "common good", "welfare", "social justice", and "income inequality".

The idea of sacrificing for freedom, and giving all for country is loathed by the media elite who stick up their nose at the "grunts" as uneducated cavemen that lack their ivy-league enlightenment and who cannot comprehend their nuanced view of world affairs.

And yet, while the media mourns for the enemy, no such investigations are called for regarding Daniel Pearl or Nick Berg who suffered far worse than any captured Taliban or Al Qaeda fighter. Guantanamo is spoken of as if the US has established some kind of Gulag in the Caribbean, and yet the prisoners of war held there gain weight, have access to medical treatment, Korans, and sports activities.

No questions are asked about the American, British, or Canadian POW's of the Taliban or Al Qaeda because there aren't any. None. Our soldiers are slaughtered while the MSM weeps over the treatment of barbaric thugs who would drag us back to the 14th century, who treat women like property, and who execute homosexuals, thieves, and adulterers without care. You will never hear a call for an apology from Japan or Vietnam for the despicable manner in which American and Allied POW's were treated, and yet America is supposed to apologize for dropping the "bomb" which actually saved millions of lives.

In war, horrible things happen. These events are necessary in order that freedom be preserved and civilization be defended from the dragons of barbarity and violence. The MSM may dream of blue-helmeted peacekeepers operating under a UN flag with an international mandate, but for liberty to be preserved a western military composed of free individuals capable of inflicting violence and destruction upon our enemies will always be a necessity.

Yes, war is hell but also necessary. Yes, terrible things happen in war when men who are charged with killing our enemies undertake those actions while in the process lose their friends and limbs. But thank God for those men and women who put on a uniform and do the unthinkable so that we can sleep at night, free from tyranny and oppression.

Michael Coren: Shut Up!

2011-12-27T19:21:00.000-05:00

I certainly have my issues with Michael Coren on various topics, but his recent rant on SunTV was quite entertaining. It's a great way to end 2011 and usher in the Armageddon that may await us in 2012. Happy new year!

Egypt to be Governed by Muslim Brotherhood

2011-12-01T18:37:00.000-05:00

The Obama administration may be having a "whoops" moment as the Muslim Brotherhood is poised to take power in Egypt after two days of elections. It appears they'll control about 45% of the seats in the new parliament.

Despite that Obama refused to support democracy protesters in Iran in 2009, he eagerly jumped on board the push to rid Egypt of Hosni Mubarak. While Mubarak was no nice guy, no democrat, and no angel, he may have been a better alternative to what is to come.

Israel may now have to prepare for Egypt's annexation of Gaza which could lead to violence and even war. Tunisia, Libya, and Egypt may be moving much closer to an Iranian axis of Islamist governments fiercely hostile to Israel and strongly in support of groups like Al Qaida, Hezbollah, and Hamas.

Don't be fooled by those who claim the Muslim Brotherhood is a moderate party that seeks peace. Those same claims existed when the ayatollah seized power in Iran in 1979. The Muslim Brotherhood (MB) may have renounced violence to western reporters, but the MB birthed Hamas and still supports it.

The MB is also supportive of Al Qaida's goals and acts:

"the Brotherhood even continues to lionize Osama bin Laden. In 2008, for example, “Supreme Guide” Muhammad Mahdi Akef lauded al-Qaeda’s emir, saying that bin Laden is not a terrorist at all but a “mujahid,” a term of honor for a jihad warrior. The Supreme Guide had “no doubt” about bin Laden’s “sincerity in resisting the occupation,” a point on which he proclaimed bin Laden “close to Allah on high.” Yes, Akef said, the Brotherhood opposed the killing of “civilians” — and note that, in Brotherhood ideology, one who assists “occupiers” or is deemed to oppose Islam is not a civilian. But Akef affirmed the Brotherhood’s support for al-Qaeda’s “activities against the occupiers.”

The possibility of continued unrest in Syria, Yemen, and even Saudi Arabia and Jordan could pave the way for a tide of Islamist takeovers. Could a new caliphate be possible in the future? It seemed impossible, but may be a possibility in the coming years.

The MB's motto is chilling in consideration of western friendly governments dropping like flies in the Arab spring: the Brotherhood’s motto remains, “Allah is our objective, the Prophet is our leader, the Koran is our law, Jihad is our way, and dying in the way of Allah is our highest hope. Allahu akbar!”.

The Arab spring could very well lead to the Islamic-fascist summer, and in the worst case scenario eventually a jihadist new year.

It just goes to show that you should be careful what you wish for.

Chris Christie Rips Obama

2011-11-29T17:26:00.000-05:00

You gotta love the New Jersey governor's directness.

America's Legalized Corruption in Government

2011-11-27T11:41:00.000-05:00

Peter Schweizer has written a book called "Throw Them All Out". In it, he details the manner in which members of Congress, the Senate, and the President have made themselves separate and above the law. They have made it legal for themselves to be enriched by insider trading, enriching political friends/bundlers, and doing other things that would get regular Americans thrown in jail.

What is happening is the establishment of a political aristocracy. The system favours a government grows that exponentially in size and power through the perpetuation of the status quo within the hands a privileged political class.

The Daily Beast's Peter Boyer writes: "Schweizer had been struck by the fact that members of Congress are free to buy and sell stocks in companies whose fate can be profoundly influenced, or even determined, by Washington policy, and he wondered, do these ultimate insiders act on what they know? Yes, Schweizer found, they certainly seem to. Schweizer’s research revealed that some of Congress’s most prominent members are in a position to routinely engage in what amounts to a legal form of insider trading, profiting from investment activity that, he says, “would send the rest of us to prison.”

The corruption infests both parties and is rampant. Before new bills are passed that restructure entire industries, politicians engage in trading, investments and maneuvers that allow them to make massive profits while the general public struggles under the burden of regulation, taxation, and a stagnant economy.

"One of the more dramatic episodes in the book recounts the trading activity of Republican Rep. Spencer Bachus, of Alabama, who, as the ranking member of the House Financial Services Committee, was privy to sensitive high-level meetings during the 2008 financial crisis and proceeded to make a series of profitable stock-option trades."

All legal, while you or I would go to jail, Congressmen/women can do it without penalty.

But there have been no insider-trading cases brought against members of Congress, nor will there likely be. This is partly because, though insider-trading law is not settled, case law usually requires that an offending insider bear fiduciary responsibility at the company involved. But Congress’s relative immunity also owes to the fact that, in this regard, as in many others, Congress lives by its own rules.

And so the United States descends from a nation of laws, to a nation of men. In such a system, there will be corruption, oppression, and eventually tyranny in which the individual becomes a servant (or even a slave) to the state. As in the USSR, everyone is equal but some are just more equal than others. Such a system will eventually lead to revolution, either at the ballot box or in the streets. History has shown that this is inevitable: the Soviet Union, the Arab Spring, the French and American Revolutions.

Nancy Pelosi is also, rightly, taking heat for her corrupt transactions:

Pelosi and her husband, Paul, are reportedly worth $40 million, with a significant stock portfolio. In the spring of 2008, when Pelosi was speaker of the House, Paul made a big play—between $1 million and $5 million—on Visa, the credit-card company. What was striking about the investment, apart from its size, was the price the Pelosis paid for it. The Visa initial public stock offering was one of the hottest of the decade, its price-per-share jumping from $44 to $65 just 48 hours after public trading began. But the initial public offering, at the $44 price, was reserved for institutional investors and mutual funds, plus a select group of individual investors. The Pelosis bought their Visa shares in three transactions, the first of which—5,000 shares—came at the lower IPO price. This may have been just a piece of investment luck or an instance of Visa extending a friendly gesture to an important political figure.

A privileged class will never do what is best for the country without laws that truly apply to everyone. "Washington does seem to live by its own laws of economics. The D.C. metro area has displaced Silicon Valley as home of the highest median income, at $84,523 last year." How then, can the rules be fair if government plays by different rules from average citizens? How can justice prevail if the political class is allowed to be enriched through corruption (even if it's "legal")?

To read more, buy Schweizer's book here: http://www.amazon.com/Throw-Them-All-Peter-Schweizer/dp/0547573146

Occupy Toronto

2011-11-21T20:42:00.000-05:00

It's great to see that the law will be enforced against the squatters in Toronto after weeks of flagrant violations of the law. However, it's somewhat ironic that these hipsters are claiming a version of property rights in a public park when their ideological hero, Karl Marx, was vociferously opposed to property rights of any sort other than that which belonged to the state.

Either way, good riddance to the squatting loafers who leach off society while enjoying the luxuries the capitalist system makes possible (i.e. cell phones).

I'd love to know why Chief Blair thinks its acceptable to enforce the law only when it's politically expedient (or correct to do so). Just recall the Tamil protests, the Toronto public worker union strikes, and now the OWS Toronto sit-in. Pathetic. Are we a nation of laws or men/women?

In Defence of the Beaver

2011-10-28T12:08:00.001-04:00

Canadian Senator Nicole Eaton is calling for a make over of Canada's emblem which would replace the beaver with a polar bear. Eaton's rationale: "It is high time that the beaver step aside as a Canadian emblem or, at the least, share the honour with the stately polar bear."

I can certainly understand Eaton's motivation to use a fierce animal like a polar bear. After all, the Russians have a bear, Americans, Germans, Mexicans and others an eagle, England a lion, and all reinforce the idea of power and strength. Eaton, echoing this line of thinking states, "The polar bear, with its strength, courage, resourcefulness and dignity, is perfect for the part. The polar bear is the world's largest terrestrial carnivore and Canada's most majestic and splendid mammal, holding reign over the Arctic for thousands of years."

I've never seen a polar in the wild, and I doubt most Canadians have. I have seen many beavers, and I would bet that most Canadians have also seen a beaver at some point during a camping trip or excursion to Canada's wild hinterland. The polar bear's strength, courage and resourcefulness also seems to need the care, concern, and hysteria of David Suzuki and Al Gore these days.

But I can't escape the thought that having a ferocious beast as Canada's symbol, seems awkwardly un-Canadian outside a hockey rink. By contrast, beavers are hard-working, industrious, creative, alert, and humble. They don't make an effort to be heard or bother anyone else, they just go along on their merry way building dams, swimming, and making babies. Beavers are quick to warn their kin of a threat that is lurking by slapping their tails on the water. They build enormous dams (relative to their size) that symbolize their industriousness and significance. Despite being small and humble, they can change the flow of a river that floods any plains or marshes that stand in their way.

Eaton has called the beaver a "dentally defective rat". I would take issue with this disrespectful characterization. A beaver uses the tools God gave endowed it (its teeth) to build, change, and modify its environment for the purposes it was created for. The beaver doesn't have angry fangs, but it does just fine surviving in Canada's rugged and unforgiving wilderness.

I'm quite content to accept the humble, hardworking beaver over the weather sensitive polar bear as a symbol of this great country.

Turn Coat Klees

2011-10-25T16:05:00.000-04:00

The Toronto Star is reporting that Frank Klees is running for speaker of the house in Ontario. This action will essentially give Dalton (Dad) McGuinty a majority government and Klees will go the way of Belinda Stronach in Ontario politics. Klees will prove nothing more than the fact that he's an unprincipled opportunist who seeks only power and a temporary title. There's a saying that those who stand for nothing will fall for anything, and that certainly applies to Mr. Klees.

Hudak, despite his shortcomings and faults, has been unjustly stabbed in the back. Klees made many red-Tory rumblings when he ran for PC leader against Hudak. Clearly, Klees has become even more of a turn-coat since his failed leadership bid. If this is how he gets pay-back, he's a very small man.

Mr. Klees would do well to consider how history will remember him. If Dalton pursues disastrous policies that lead to economic ruin, Klees will bear responsibility. Regardless of what happens, Klees will be known as an untrustworthy man with no integrity and no principles. He'll go the way of Stronach and other turncoats who took advantage of short-term gain for the sake of their own egos and vanity.

Shame on Mr. Klees for subverting the will of the electorate for his own selfish gains.

Obama Failing Like Carter, Maybe Worse

2011-10-22T16:05:00.000-04:00

President Obama, as I predicted in 2008 more than once, is behaving much like Jimmy Carter and would be a big government socialist with no new ideas other than the expansion of government at the expense of individuals and the private market.

The middle east is in the throes of change, but it is impossible to tell whether it will usher in more violence, Islamist extremism, or democracy. If I was a betting man, it would seem that the democratic possibility is, unfortunately, the least likely given the radicalism that infests the mosques, schools, and culture of the Arab world.

Obama has attacked success, prosperity, and the free market at every turn. Businesses are not hiring because there is no reason for them to take on a massive risk and cost of a new employee. Health care costs, taxes, and regulations are all on the rise. Why would any business hire in this environment?

Meanwhile, the corruption and waste of the green jobs program and stimulus is becoming more obvious by the day as Solyndra and other debacles are coming to light. The Democrats push a new stimulus package that pretends to be a "jobs bill", but is one that will only help unions and public employees which will in turn benefit the Democrats through union donations. A sick cycle of corruption and money laundering, despite it being legal (technically).

America weakens at home and abroad with skyrocketing spending, deficits, and unemployment. And what is the answer from the president? More government, more regulation, more taxes, more spending, more control of private enterprise. The central planners never really went away when the Soviet Union collapsed, they just changed their tune from "red" to "green", from "central planning" to "public investments". However, underneath the name of the game is power and control.

To get the economy moving, there must be more freedom and less burdens on business from the government. Individuals and corporations must be uninhibited in benefiting from creativity, smart risk taking, and entrpreneurialism.

The protests on Wall Street are aimed at precisely the wrong people. It is Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, Barney Frank, Chris Dodd, Congress, and the White House that are to blame for the mess that we are in. Republicans and Democrats have allowed government to expand too fast for too long. The tide must be reversed or the result will be irreversible: decline and failure.

Hudak's Failure

2011-10-07T11:30:00.001-04:00

Dalton McGuinty was given another mandate as Ontario's Premier by the voters last night. Despite a record of tax increases, skyrocketing deficits, broken promises, and union coddling, the PC's could not defeat the Grits. The blame lies entirely on the PC leader, Tim Hudak.

Despite having some good ideas and that he would have, undoubtedly, done a better job than Premier Dad (in my opinion), Hudak could not convince Ontario voters to change horses. This is especially surprising given the success the federal Conservatives have had in Ontario.

So why did Hudak fail? My belief is that he ran as Liberal-lite, offering policies and ideas on slightly to the right of McGuinty. Hudak ran an Ernie Eves (Hudak's political mentor) campaign. I don't believe Hudak really had a vision of what he wanted to do for Ontario as its premier. Say what you want about Mike Harris or Rob Ford, but they came to power knowing exactly what they wanted to do: prevent or slow government expansion, ensure fiscal accountability and responsibility, and create an environment where business can thrive.

Hudak presented no vision of where he wanted to lead Ontario. The videos attacking McGuinty as a tax and spender were all true, but that's not enough. Voters must understand the new direction a challenger wants to take, why it is better than the status quo, and how they will get there. Hudak utterly failed in that regard. There were no big ideas in the PC campaign at all. Hudak will likely follow the paths of John Tory, George HW Bush, Gerald Ford, and Ernie Eves, leaders who lacked a vision and ran "moderate" campaigns.

Moderate conservatives almost always fail. Principled conservatives like Reagan, Mike Harris, Stephen Harper, and even Rob Ford win elections. So when the next leadership campaign begins for the Ontario PC's, as it should, remember that principle beats unprincipled.

Thoughts on GOP Debate

2011-09-23T10:22:00.003-04:00

The number of GOP debates is great, it is allowing for a wide reaching debate on the issues and providing insight into each candidate. The two front runners, Romney and Perry, may not be the front runners for long.

I thought Rick Perry was absolutely disastrous. His answers were barely comprehensible at times, especially on foreign policy and when he tried to attack Romney for being a flip-flopper. It brought back memories of another Texan who struggled with "fool me once...".

Romney was a good debater, but his conservative credentials are seriously lacking. His defence of Romney-care is weak considering the similarities it has with Obamacare. He also can't really articulate why he was once pro-abortion, pro-gay marriage, and pro-individual mandate, and now is not.

Johnson seemed like a less-angry version of Ron Paul, but he has no place in the debate. Stealing Rush Limbaugh's lines isn't going to display his worthiness for being commander in chief either.

Ron Paul is Ron Paul. I find it's such a time waster to even have him up there because he'll never be elected and will never win the nomination. That said, he certainly sticks to his guns.

Rick Santorum was quite good and seems to be getting better as time goes on. I can't say the same for MIchelle Bachmann. She just spews out cliches which are so tiresome and remind of a more polished version of a former Alaskan governor.

Herman Cain is great. He may lack some substance on foreign policy, but I do like his economic ideas. His personal story on cancer was very moving as a key reason why Obamacare will really hurt the country and reduce individual freedom.

Hunstman is smart, but he comes across as a snippy smart-ass. His moderate views will get him nowhere considering that Romney is already garnering the vast majority of the moderate vote.

Newt Gingrich is my personal favourite and I've supported him for years (see www.gingrichforpres.blogspot.com). He always seems to have the best applause lines, best ideas, and an incredible grasp of the issues. I'm under no illusions that he's certainly the underdog who would have to overcome major doubts about his past regarding his personal life and political background. The media hates him because he'd destroy Obama in any debate.

The one thing that certainly sets candidates apart is the ability the extent to which they have principles in their political views. It's one thing to recite a cliche (i.e. Michelle Bachmann), but quite another to know why it's important to believe in American Exceptionalism (i.e. Newt Gingrich). Rick Perry and Mitt Romney seem unprincipled and very un-Reaganesque. They are populists, but they don't have principles which they believe deeply to the core of their being. Rick Santorum, Herman Cain, Gingrich, and Ron Paul do have such convictions, and it makes them more credible even if you disagree with them.

I'm actually shocked at how turned off I am by Rick Perry. He seems like a George W. clone with less smarts, brown hair, and no conviction. He likes power, but it didn't matter if it was being Al Gore's money man or George W.'s lieutenant governor. He uses government power to give needles to pre-teens, but won't use it to build a fence. He's against illegal immigration, but is willing to subsidize it. The last thing the country needs is another "compassionate" conservative with no ideology, no plan, and no principles.

It seems to me that Ronald Reagan was the exact opposite of Rick Perry, and a new Reagan is exactly what the United States needs.

The Real Obama Returns

2011-09-23T09:43:00.002-04:00

Charles Krauthammer brilliantly reveals how the "centrist" Obama was nothing but a sham, and the true re-distributionist Obama is again shining through. Obama is, and has always been, an idealogue when it comes to his socialist mindset and redistributionist policies.

He undoubtedly wants to raise capital gains taxes, raise income taxes, and increase the size of government.
Charles writes, "The authentic Obama is a leveler, a committed social democrat, a staunch believer in the redistributionist state, a tribune, above all, of "fairness" — understood as government-imposed and government-enforced equality."

Obama is putting his un-American views on full display now. While the Constitution guarantees equality of opportunity, Obama wants equality of result economically and socially. This is dangerous as it will undoubtedly involve central planning, increased government power, and an attack on the sovereignty of the individual.

Finally, Krauthammer writes: "That's why "soak the rich" is not just a campaign slogan to rally the base. It's a mission, a vocation. It's why, for all its gratuitous cynicism and demagoguery, Obama's populist Rose Garden lecture on Monday was delivered with such obvious — and unusual — conviction."

The election in 2012 cannot come soon enough.

"Atlas Shrugged" Movie Coming to Canada

2011-09-13T15:23:00.001-04:00

The movie of Ayn Rand's famous book, Atlas Shrugged, is coming to Canada shortly:

"Pacific Northwest Pictures has acquired all rights for Canada to ''Atlas Shrugged Part 1'' and will distribute through its Cross Country Releasing.

Deal was announced Saturday at the Torono Film Festival. Pic opened to $1.8 million at 299 screens in the U.S. in April and finished its run with a $4.8 million cume.

Screenplay of Ayn Rand's novel was written by Brian Patrick O'Toole and John Aglialoro. Harmon Kaslow and John Aglialoro produced.

Taylor Schilling and Grant Bowler starred. The film was directed by Paul Johannson.

Pacific Northwest Pictures VP Emily Alden said, ''Ayn Rand's philosophy still resonates strongly with people today. Tea Party organizations from all over the world remain hungry for Rand's message and we are proud to have Atlas Shrugged Part 1 as Cross Country's first project.''

Qaddafi on the Run, Future in Doubt

2011-08-22T20:24:00.000-04:00

Libyan dictator Moamar Qaddafi is on the run as rebels converged on Tripoli. After months of civil war, the rebels, assisted by NATO from the air and probably by advisers on the ground, are bringing the conflict to its conclusion.

The scary part is not the departure of Qaddafi, an evil tyrant who has long abused his people, terrorized innocents, and threatened stability in the region. It is the unknown future that lays ahead. The rebels may celebrate together in the coming days, but they will soon be divided by factions, self interest, greed, and the pursuit of power.

Who is likely to prevail? Sadly, as is being seen in Egypt, it is likely that an Islamist group will do all it can to take the reigns of power. The chances of a liberal democracy growing in Libya that has never known such a government of the people are slim.

Rebels now control most of Tripoli and Qaddafi whereabouts are unknown at this time. His sons have been captured by rebels, but they have been defiant saying that their father has laid a trap for the rebels. Bluster of course.

President Obama may claim success for his tactics of "leading from behind" in Libya, but with no boots on the ground and no plan for the future, Libya could easily degenerate into what Iraq was in 2003, something Obama has routinely criticized Bush 44 and the Republicans for. It's very possible that Libya could become the next Yemen, Afghanistan, or Iran, continuing to pose a threat to its neighbours and the free world while oppressing it's citizens under Sharia law.

The hope for the rule of law rather than the rule of a man is dim. America and NATO may be back in Libya before long, and with a much higher casualty count.

RIP Jack

2011-08-22T20:14:00.000-04:00

Jack Layton lost his battle with cancer today. While conservative bloggers like myself disagree with most of Jack's views, we can admire his admirable fight against a deadly disease and his commitment to the values he believed in. Cancer knows no political ideologies, race, creed, or gender.

Layton is survived by wife and children who will dearly miss him. There is no doubt that the NDP will use the gains from the recent election to honour his memory and legacy in politics.

Dead at 61, RIP.

Washington Could Learn A Lot from a Drug Addict

2011-07-28T13:26:00.000-04:00

This video speaks volumes about the disaster that is the United States debt limit and unquenchable spending habit.

Who Does this Guy Think He Is?

2011-07-25T19:04:00.000-04:00

President Obama said today, "The idea of doing things on my own is very tempting, I promise you, not just on immigration reform. But that's not how our system works. That's not how our democracy functions."

Oh really? Thanks for the civics lesson Barry. The scary part is that you can just see this guy's tendency towards Alinsky-like control welling up from within his soul.

Moreover, the way Obama has "summoned" congressional leaders to his office over the debt issue is revolting. Apparently, Obama thinks that he can tyrannically summon whomever he wants, whenever he wants. Let us remind Obama that in the United States, the Congress and the Executive are co-equal branches of government.

And, we're all still waiting for Obama's plan for the economy. All he's done so far is sit back and criticize, lie about what he'll accept or reject, and move the goal posts in the debate. Meanwhile, the Democratic controlled senate hasn't passed a budget in two years and the President outright rejects a GOP cut, cap, and balance bill without offering any solutions.

There's no reason that a default would be inevitable even if the debt limit isn't raised because the Obama administration, through its executive powers, could prioritize payments for debt, social security, or whatever it wants. However, it's much more politically expedient to threaten seniors that they won't get their Social Security checks and predict that economic Armageddon will unfold if Obama doesn't get his way.

If that was the case, we might as well let Obama "do things alone" and scrap those pesky annoying things called the House of Representatives and the Senate.

NFL Owners and Players Reach a Deal

2011-07-25T18:56:00.000-04:00

Thank goodness. The American economy and debt situation is bad enough, but life without football would be next to unbearable. Thankfully, the rich owners reached a deal with the rich players to make everyone happy and to keep beer drinking, chicken wing eating, tailgating, arm-chair quarterbacks everywhere happy.

A recession without football would be like a Depression with prohibition, wait...

I wonder if any TARP funds went to the NFL to end the lock-out.

Aftermath of Oslo

2011-07-25T11:17:00.002-04:00

The terrorist who attacked Oslo and Utoya was not a Muslim, but a homegrown fascist virulently opposed to immigration and the spread of Islam in Europe. A terrible reminder that evil is colourblind, genderless, and omnipresent in this world.

Initial reports indicated that an Islamic group had taken responsibility for the massacre, but facts and reality have proven otherwise. In an attack mirroring the Oklahoma City bombing, Anders Behring Breivik carried out his assault with ruthlessness and cunning. Deriving his motivations from an American hate novel, Breivik admitted his crimes but pleaded not guilty in court. He has professed a desire to "save Europe" from multiculturalism and Marxism.

Unfortunately, Norway's laws do not include the death penalty for such monsters and the present laws would see Breivik spend on 21 years in jail, the equivalent of 81 days per victim. This is hardly justice, and provides neither a fitting punishment for the crime, a deterrent from acts of a similar nature in the future, or retribution for the victims and their families.

The NZ Herald reports: "So many innocent people have been killed that I think he doesn't have the right to live," Mari Kaugerud says on her Facebook group "Yes to the death penalty for Anders Behring Breivik" that already has 1783 members.

The Norweigan PM was the prime target of Breivik according to what Norwegian police have said based on his statements. Norweigan PM Stoltenberg said on Sunday that the response to the carnage was "more democracy, more openness, more humanity, but without naivety."

This attack was far more about evil, hatred and violence than naivety. Let us hope that there is real justice for the victims and changes to ensure such a tragedy never occurs again.